Automatic time-regulating thermostat



Nov. 9 1926. 1,606,599

c. L. RAYFIELD AUTOMATIC TIME REGULATING THERMOSTAT Filed Feb. l4. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 C ar/esL. Ra field Nov. 9, 1926. 1,606,599

' C. L. RAYFIELD AUTOMATIC TIME REGULATING THERMOSTAT Filed Feb. 14. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 3 IF?"- cm (liar/es L. R gy/z'e/d Patented Nov. 9, 1926.

l dhtfitlt UNITED STATES PATENT oar-ice CHARLES L. BAYFIELD, OF'GHIGAGG, ILLINOIS} .AfiiSIGNGR T RAYFIELID HANUFAC- TUBING CO1, all. CQRPCRAFEIQN OF ILLINOIS.

AUTOMATIC TIME-*EEGUIJATIN G THEBMG$TAT.

Application filed February 14, 1924 Serial No. 692,63fi.

This invention relates to an attachment for automatic temperature control thermostats wherein a clock serves to alter the temperature range at given times, as for example lowering the controlling temperature of such a thermostat at a given time at night and restoring the normal controlling temperature at a given time in the morning. Such thermostats are extensively used to control the heating apparatus of homes,

7 apartments, stores and schools where it is economical and desirable to maintain a comfortalole temperature during the day and to lower the temperature during the night to save fuel.

It is an object of this invention to provide an attachmentfor such thermostats adapted to maintain the low or night temperature over one or more of the following days. In

schools for example the building is usually unoccupied from Friday afternoon until Monday morning and the provision of a device that will prevent the thermostat from governing the heating apparatus at the 5 higher daytime temperature during the unoccupied period will result in a considerable saving in fuel. With oil burning heating lants such a device is especially desirable Eecause such plants are usually fully automatic in operation and therefore would not require the presence of an attendant or fire man.

It is also an object of this invention to provide a device that can be used at wlll to delay the normal action of the thermostats for one or more days as theconditions may make desirable.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a device capable ofeasyattachment to thermostatic regulators even by unskilled persons.

Other and further important objects of this invention will be apparent from the disclosures in the specification and accompanying drawings. U

This invention (in a preferred form} is illustrated in the drawings and hereinaiter more fully described.

On the drawings:

Figure 1 isa front view of a regulating thermostat having a device embodying features of this invention attached thereto hut not operatively engaged with the thermostat mechanism.

Figure. 2 is a fragmentary side view of such a thermostat with the attachment applied thereto.

Figure 3 is a partlv detailed front view of the thermostat mechanism with the device of this invention applied thereto.

Figures 4 and 5 show successive steps in the operation of the device of this invention, Figure 3 illustrating the initial position, Figure 4 the second position] in full lines and the third position in dotted lines, Figure 5 shows the fourth position in full lines and shows the fifth or disconnected position in dotted lines. 7 a

Figure 6 illustrates in another way the successive operations of the device.

Figure 7 shows a side view of a thermostat equipped with a modified term of the device of this invention.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 88 of Figure 7 4 As shown on the drawings:

The device of this invention is shown in connection with a commercial type oi clock controlled thermostatic furnace regulator. It is not intended by such a showing to imply that the device of this invention is limited in applicability to the particular make of instrument chosen for illustration as many difierent manufacturers market in struments to which this device is equally applicable by simple changes in the proportion and arrangement of parts.

The mechanism of the particular thermostat shown comprises a clock 10 having a disc 11 on the back which rotates once in 24 hours and has-tripping fingers 12 adjustably secured thereon adapted to engage a. trigger 13 at predetermined times. The trigg 14 which shifts a pivoted plate 15 carrying or 13 is adapted to release clockwork the contact points 16 alternately engaged by a thermostatl'? thereby altering the tem perature range of the thermostat. While comprising no part of this invention it may he stated that high and. low temperature electric circuits are provided which actuate auxiliary apparatus controlling the dampers of a coal burning plant or the oil and air supply or pressure of an oilburning apparatus. The trigger and clock mechanism is so arranged as to alternately shift the plate 15 to the right and left, the left position being the low temperature side... A pointer 18 is interconnected with the plate 15 and traverses a graduated scale visible through.

the instrument cover. This pointer is automatically moved by the thermostat mechanism to indicate the setting thereoi and is also manually movable to alter the instrument setting.

With instruments of this type the pointer 18 is shifted to the left by operation of one tripping finger on the disc 11 to shut down the furnace for the night, and the other fin ger shifts the pointer to the right 110 the early morning to put on the furnace drafts and restore daytime temperatures.

This action is automatic and repeats itself every day until the clockwork runs down. Of course if the premises are to be unoccupied for a day or two there s a great waste in fuel in heating the building to a comfortable temperature during an unoccupied period as the only heat required even in severe weather is that sulficient to prevent the freezing of water pipes,

The device of this invention comprises a supporting lorachet 20 which is clamped to a pin 2]. already orovided on the thermostat case to properly locate the clock. This bracket is intended to locate the device proper relative to the exposed portion of the pointer 18 with Whioh it is intended. to count. The bracket is provided with a pivot stud 22 and clamping nut 23 to receive an upright linlr 2% which serves to permit adjustment of the temperature range when the device is in use. A second stud 25 with a split clamping nut 26 is provided about vvhich is freely pivoted a horizontal hot; 2? which has escapemeut 28 oriented to coaot with the pointer 1% when desired.

The esoapement jaw 25% is shown in detail in. Figure 6 wherein the successive positions of this relative to nointer 18 are represented as though. the f .w were statiou Whereas e m. V r ct pointer periforms the lateral. movements in while the pivoted lever carrying ti o 'jtt'W neriorms the vertical movements with the resulting indicated sequence efmovements. example if the pointer is engaged under the iug 29 in the position. indicated by A. on Fridayafternoon the operation of the clock engaging the resetting trigger the following morning moves the pointer to the right out of engagement with the lug 29 and allows the esca oemeut jaw to drop until a lug 30 on the right hand side rests on the pointer which is no in position at B. The log 30 is offset veldically relative to the lug 9,9 to allow horizontal movement of the pointer to the left above the lug 1 but the ends of the lugs are close enough together to revent direct movement of the jaw, Pursuing the one .ple chosen, Saturday evening the eloolr. will trip trigger to move the @ointer to the low temperature range when. pointe will escape from. the lug coming rest a the a sesses osition indicated at C under a lug 31 running the left hand terminus of the escapement jaw. A lug 32 bears the same relation to the lug 31 as exists between the lugs 30 and 29, the lug 32 serving as the right hand terminus of the jaw. Sunday morning 'when the clock trips the trigger mechanism to shift the pointer to the high temperature side, the pointer will engage under the lug 32 at the position indicated by D77- temperature side Will result in entirely releasing the pointer from the escapement j air which drops out of the Way. The following morning the thermostat mechanism operates in the normal manner to move the pointer to the high temperature side as represented by the letter F.

It will be apparent that the omission of the lug 32 on the right hand side will outdown the period of engagement between the pointer 18 and the jaw'hy a full day. This would be particularly suitable for buildings occupied by stores and the like which. are only vacant for one full day. The same result would be obtained by initially engaging the pointer under the lug 31in the position indicated at '1. reversing the vertical position of. he right and left hand lugs the device can he used to maintain a sustained high temperature over like period for such purposes for example as forcing plants in greenhouses.

modified form of this invention is o. in Figures T and 8 wherein reduction gee ug 35 is attached to the hack of the clout and driven by the clock mechanism loraelret 38, the lever 3'? being moved into a position. to intercept the thermostatic oointer prevent its movement to the high temperature side. in use the gearing is ar ranged so that the large gear revolves once for the major cycle desired for example, one revolution per Week when the heat is to he cut down over the week end. Whenthe cam lifts the lever 37 it prevents movement of the pointer 18 to the high temperature side on a predetermined mornin Then at night the pointer is free to return to the extreme lovvtemperature setting, and the following moruin the cam has moved far enough to let t is lever 3'? drop out of the Way permitting normal operation of the thermostat. If it is desired to prolong the 1. In combination with a thermostatic.

control'for heating plants having means for periodically adjustin the desired temperature to be maintaine esca ement means engaging said periodically a justing means to automatically delay the action of the adjusting means over several cycles.

2. In combination with a thermostatic control for heating plants having means for periodically adjustin the desired temperahire to be maintained, the action of said first mentioned means over one or more days at the will of the operator.

3. An attachment for automatic thermostatic furnace control mechanism comprising a pivoted lever, an escapement jaw thereon adapted to engage with the thermostatic mechanism to restrain the normal operation thereof over a period of several cycles.

4. An automatic device adapted to mainmeans for retarding tain the low temperature range of a thermostat having a mechanism or automatically shifting from high to'low temperature.

and the reverse at predetermined intervals, comprising an escapement mechanism engaging the shifting mechanism of the thermostat to prevent the {normal operation of the shifting mechanism for a predetermined number of Shifts.

5. In. combination with a thermostatvhavs ing high and low temperature control ranges, means for temporarily preventing a shift from one temperature range to the other. p

6.111 combination with mechanism for producing a recurring cycle at predetermined intervals, of means adapted to selectively suppress one or more of said cycles.

7. In combination with control mechanism adapted at predetermined times to ac- 

